The spectacular coastline of Mexico's Yucatán peninsula is a diverse playground where you can bask on pristine beaches, explore ancient ruins, play golf or tennis, go biking, snorkeling or scuba diving, do serious shopping, or escape to a secluded lagoon. With info on Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, plus the nearby ruins, this friendly guide gives you the low down on:

• Everything from unique spa experiences to nature preserves and ecoparks
  
  
• Accommodations ranging from a luxury resort where guests can dabble in a Viking-clad kitchen or where rooms spread out through the jungle to a European-style inn that offers Spanish lessons or a peaceful beachside palapa (thatch-roofed) inn
  
  
• All kinds of dining options, including fresh seafood, regional specialties such as pork pibil, papadzules, and poc chuc, or Thai, Argentinean, or Italian cuisine
  
  
• Diving into the clear depths of the Yucatán cenotes (natural wells)
  
  
• Birding at Isla Contoy, with more than 70 species of birds as well as a host of marine and animal life
  
  
• The Panoramic Tower on Isla Mujeres. where you get a stunning view of the island and Cancun
  
  
• Day trips to the archeological sites at Tulum, Chichén Itzá, and Ek Balam
  
  
• The pedestrian-only Avenida 5 in Playa del Carmen that's the hot social scene
  
  
• Night life, including live music venues, tequila bars, sports bars, cafes, and plenty of places where you can dance the night away
  
  

Like every For Dummies travel guide, Cancún & the Yucatán For Dummies, 3^rd Edition includes:

• Down-to-earth trip-planning advice
  
  
• What you shouldn't miss -- and what you can skip
  
  
• The best hotels and restaurants for every budget
  
  
• Handy Post-it® Flags to mark your favorite pages
  
  

Whether your idea of the perfect vacation is action, sun, and non-stop fun or an escape to a peaceful haven where life moves along in pure mañana mode, this guide will get you on your way with no problemo, amigo.